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Hey guys, this is only my second week in Aikido. I love it. Any ways, I know the 3 or 4 different ways of grabing some ones wrists/hands have a name. What is this name, also, does any one know of a webpage that shows how each grab is done so I can practice it at home? Im pritty sure I have to master thease before I could ever hope to be good at Aikido moves. Thanks,
-Robert

First of all its great to hear you're enjoying yourself on the mat and are eager to learn more about the techniques as well as their names. If you're interested in getting the terms down for grabs and holds I would suggest consulting the aikiweb language section. It's very helpful for all levels of training. It may also help to consult the page at the bottom of this post that highlights a few simple names.

Concerning practicing at home, this isn't to say it's not possible, but you may find that wrist grabbing practice to be a bit hollow. This is because "katate" (hand/wrist grabs)consists of much more than just an initiating response for nage ("thrower"). These actions are fruitfull points of connection. And it is through these connections that we learn much more about our own techniques and centering than we primarily believe. This is what helps to make Aikido so wonderful. It is the fact that we connect with each other on many different levels whether being uke (attacker), or nage ("thrower").

In terms of pictures, it would be good to invest a bit of money into purchasing a book on techniques. Even if you don't really care to continue with aikido, goodness forbid, it's still a farily nice reminder of its elegance.

Hey guys, this is only my second week in Aikido. I love it. Any ways, I know the 3 or 4 different ways of grabing some ones wrists/hands have a name. What is this name, also, does any one know of a webpage that shows how each grab is done so I can practice it at home? Im pritty sure I have to master thease before I could ever hope to be good at Aikido moves. Thanks,

-Robert

Hi Robert

I'm not much further down the road then you, so take with a grain of salt : -

The basic ones I know of (yoseikan) are

(1) Katate dori (Jun) - one hand hold, same side (your left grabs his left)

(2) Katate dori (Dosoku) - as above, except your left grabs his right

(3) Katate dori (Gyaku) - opposite grip. Kinda hard to explain. Sort of looks like the way gentlemen would escort ladies strolling along the prominade in the 1930's. ;-) Anyone?

(4)Katate dori (Ryote) - both of your hands grab his one hand. (two on one in wrestling parlance). Like holding a baseball bat.

(5) As above, except one hand on each of his wrists. (one on one)

Then wrist grabs from behind (ushiro katate dori etc)

"Aikido in the dynamic sphere" (O. Ratti) is a good book for all this. Online, you could search for above terms?

(1) Door taisabaki. Stand behind a door so that to open it would cause the door to crash into you. Use your rear hand to open the door. In doing so, perform taisabaki (irimi nageshi) so that the door *just* misses you. The goal of the exercise is to have the door miss by a hairs bredth while you are left in a good countering posture.

As the good folks here pointed out to me, the basic technique can be seen here -

(2) Office chair kuzushi. I adapted this from an old judo solo tech (uchikomi with inner tube). Get an office chair (with wheels and a high back. Buy a bicycle inner tube and cut in half. Tie one end of tube around wrist and other around office chair "neck". Perform aiki no taiso. Tadaa.